Radio controlled model submarine



Sept. 15, 1959 D. v. REID 2,903,822

- RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL SUBMARINE Filed July 8, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Fig.

Dana/d 1! Reid INVENTOR.

Sept. 15, 1959 D. v. REQID RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL SUBMARINE 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1955 D. V. REID RADIO CONTROLLED MODELSUBMARINE Sept. 15, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 8, 1955 Donald MReid IN V EN TOR.

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Sept. 15, 1959 D. v. REID RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL SUBMARINE 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 1955 7 Mill Dona/d ll. Reid INVENTOR.

United States Patent flee 2,903,822 RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL SUBMARINE,

DonaldV. Reid, Asbury Park, NJ.

Application July 8, 1955, Serial No. 520,670

Claims. (Cl. 46-244) This invention relates broadly to the class ofmaritime .vessels and more particularly to a novel radio controlledmodel submarine.

The invention herein disclosed is shown adapted forv use as a toy. It isto be realized that various adaptations ofthisradio controlled modelsubmarine can be utilized:

in various commercial and military applications and while the embodimentof the maritime vessel is shown in the form of a model submarine, othershapes and types of.

vessels can be simulated or utilized without departing A further objectof the invention resides in the pro vision of means for varying theamount of fiuid in-the hull of a model submarine so as to cause a changein its buoyancy thereby causing the submarine to surface or submerge asthe condition of the inflatable member may dictate.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means forcontrolling the initial buoyancy ofthe vessel to thereby assure thattheantenna thereof will always remain above the surface of the water.

The construction of this invention teaches the use of novel controlmeans for the rudders of the submarine which include a flexible tubeforming a water tight bearing for the rudder control means.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of timercontrol means for controlling the inflation and deflation of theinflatable member.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor automatically controlling the inflation and deflation of theinflatable member by a suitable pump through a valve structurecontrolled by radio actuated control means. I

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of abattery powered radio controlled model submarine which has means forpropelling the submarine either partially submerged or surfaced and inwhich the hull permits entrance of water to weight the hull to itspartially submerged or otherwise surfaced position with the drive meansand radio control means of the submarine encased in a water tighthousing.

Still other objects and features of this invention reside in. the,provision of a radio controlled model submarine that is highlyattractive in appearance, capable of functioning for a considerableperiod of time on a single battery, which may 'be molded out of suitableplastic material or otherwise constructed, and which may be made out ofa minimum number of parts to permit easy assembly and disassembly.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and as the followingdescription proceeds, are attained by this features of the inventionwhich will become apparent,

Patented Sept. l5, 1959 radio controlled model submarine, a preferredembodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings,by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the radio controlled model submarinecomprising the present invention;

Figures 2 and 2a comprise a longitudinal vertical sectional detail viewof the vessel;

Figures 3 and 3a comprise a horizontal sectional view of the submarineas taken along the line 33 in Figures 2 and 2a;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view as taken along the plane ofline 44 in Figure 2 and illustrating in particular the position of therudders, propellers, and associated shafts;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross-sectional detail view as taken along theplane of line 5-5 in Figure 2 and illustrating in particular the drivemeans for the vessel;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of Iline6-6 in Figure 3 and illustrating in particu-,v

Figure 8' is a sectional. detail view on an enlarged.

scale as takenalong the plane of line 8-8 in Figure 2a illustrating. theeyelets at the openings of the hull to the sea;

Figure9 is: a; sectional detail view on an enlargedscaleshowingtheconstruction of the timer;

Figure 10 isan enlarged detail view showing the connection between thesections of the inflatable member;

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating theconstruction of, the relief valve arrangement used in the inflatablemember;

Figure. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the various components ofthe invention;

Figure 13 is a sectional detail view illustrating means provided whichare responsive to radio actuation for controlling the inflation anddeflation of the inflatable member; and

Figure 14'is a sectionaldetail view of the construction shown in Figure13 but illustrating the valve means in a different position.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein referencenumerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, referencenumeral 10 generally designates the radio controlled model submarinecomprising the presentinvention. This radio controlled model submarineas can be seen best in Figures 1, 2 and 2a includes a hull 12constructed from a lower hull section 14 and an upper hull section 16which may be secured to each other in any suitable manner such as bymeans of. the pressure fitted plug-type clips 18 and 20. The clip 18 ascan be best seen in Figure 2a includes a female member '22 whichreceives a split rod 24 mounted in the upper section 16 therein so as tohold the upper hull section 16 in position. The rod 24 is threaded as at26 for threaded adjustment in a bracket 23. The clip 20 is of similarconstruction to the clip 18.

The lower hull section 14 may be provided with a keel weight 30 toassure that the vessel will ride properly. A conning tower 32 is securedto the upper hull section 16 in any convenient manner as by fasteners34. Outwardly of the hull are bow planes 36, stern planes 38, rudders 40and 42, propellers 44 as on shafts as at 46, an anchor 48, and suchother deck hardware as may be desired which will serve to conform thevessel to the details of an actual submarine.

The hull 12 is open to the sea by means of inlet means as 50 theconstruction of which can be best seen in Figure 8. These inlet openings50 are surrounded by eyelets 52 so as to prevent deterioration of thehull by forming weak points therefor. The hull 12 is preferably moldedof suitable plastic material such as resin impregnated fiber glass orthe like but may be made of any other selected material as may bedesired.

A simulated snorkle tube 54 is provided which extends up through theconning tower 32 and an antenna 56 is mounted in the tube 54 andsuitable conductors 58 connect the antenna 56 to a conventional radioreceiver as indicated 60 mounted within a waterproof housing 62 securedto the bottom of the hull 12 of the vessel. This housing 62 may beformed with a removable top 64 held in place by fasteners 66 or, ifdesired, be formed as a replaceable unit and sealed permanently.

Mounted within the housing 62 is a conventional battery 68 of the wetcell variety. A switch as at 70 is provided for opening and closing anelectrical circuit between the battery 68 and the other electricalcomponents of the invention. This switch includes a rotatable rod 72which has a head portion 74 extending above the upper hull section 16 ofthe vessel and is threaded into the gland block 76 and the housing 64 ina water tight manner and has an actuating head 78 adapted to close theswitch 70 when desired.

Mounted in the housing 62 is a motor 82 which drives a shaft 84providing the motive power for the vessel. The motor is adapted to beelectrically operatively connected to the battery 70 through conductors86 and 88 when the switch 70 is closed. The shaft 84, see Figure 5,drives a gear 90 which in turn engages gears 92 and 94 mounted on shafts96 and 98. The shafts 96 and 98 are connected to flexible shaft members100 and 102, respectively, which in turn are connected to shafts 104 and106 mounted within waterproof packing bearings 108 and 110 extendingthrough the hull 12. The bearings 108 and 110 are formed of tubing ofrubber or like material and provided with suitable graphite packing. Theportions of the shafting 104 and 106 which extend outwardly of the hullare designated by reference numerals 46 and have propellers 44 mountedthereon.

Rotation of the shaft 84 also causes rotation of the worm gear 116, seeFigures 2 and 6, which meshes with a gear 118 having a piston rod 120 ofa piston 122 of pump 124 mounted in communication with the housing 62for use in inflating the inflatable member 126 mounted above the housing62 as can be best seen in Figures 2 and 2a.

The pump 124 is connected through a suitable conduit 128 and through asuitable check valve 130, see Figure 6, to the intake port as at 132 ofthe inflatable member 126, the inflatable member 126 being in the formof two balloon-like members 134 and 136 connected to an intake lock 138provided with a T-passage 140 therein interconnecting the balloon-likemembers 134 and 136 with the fitting 132. This can be best seen inFigure 10. The conduit 128 is connected to a T-fitting 142 to which isconnected a conduit 144 connected to the fitting 132. Also connected tothe fitting 132 is a conduit 146 leading to a timer 148. Theconstruction of the timer can be best seen in Figure 9 and consists of acylinder 150 which is filled with fluid as at 152 and provided with anadjustable bottom plate 154. A piston 156 having an aperture 158therethrough for a dashpot effect is mounted in the cylinder and isspring pressed as at 160. The piston rod 162 connected to the piston 156is provided with a cam surface at 164 which engages a check valve rod166 of a valve member 168 so as to close the valve when in the lowerposition, the spring 160 urging the piston 156 to a lowered position soas to cause the valve member 168 to close. Hence, due to the dashpoteffect through the aperture 158, the timer permits the valve member 168to remain in its open position for a selected period of time determinedby the setting of the screw adjustment 170 of the plate 154 whichdetermines the volume of the chamber defined by the cylinder 150.

Mounted in the conning tower 32 is an inflatable balloon 172 which isconnected to an intake conduit 174 extending through the upper portionof the conning tower 32. A clamp-like closure 176, see Figure 7, isprovided to close the otherwise open end 176 of the inlet 178 so as toassure a proper seal for the balloon 172 when inflated. While the pistonrod 162 is provided with an actuating head 180, the clamp member 176 isprovided with a knurled wheel 182 or the like for enabling the readyrotation of the clamp member 176.

Mounted on the housing 62 is a bracket for a rotatable shaft 192 andhaving a fitting 194 engageable for rotation of the shaft 192. Afriction disk 196 is mounted on the shaft 192 and engages the housing 62to prevent the rotation of the shaft 92 when it is not otherwise forcedto rotate. Figure 3a.

tached thereto as is generally conventionally provided for radiocontrolled model devices. This rubber band 200 is attached at its otherend to a shaft 202 having a hook portion 204, see Figure 3.

Mounted on the shaft 202, see Figures 2 and 5, is a crank member 208which is normally held from rotation by an L-shaped pawl 210 having lugportions 212 and 214 engageable with the respective ends of the crankmember 208. The pawl 210 is actuated by electromagnet 216 upon receiptof a radio signal from the radio receiver 60 thereby permit rotation ofthe member 208 one-quarter turn per signal due to the shape of the pawl210 and member 208. The crank arm or member 208 has a pin 231 riding inthe slot 220 of member 222 mounted on a shaft 224. The shaft 224 has athin flexible tube 226 such as surgical catheter tube positionedthereabout and extends through an aperture 228 in the housing 62 in awatertight manner, the tube being formed in sections 230 as may bedesired and bound with wire 232 at its outer end where it is connectedto a suitable arm 234 which in turn, see Figure 2, is connected to anactuating arm 236 of a shaft 238 on which the rudders 40 and 42 aremounted. Hence, each actuation of the electromagnets 216 by a radiosignal will cause rotation of the rudders 40 and 42 a preset andpredetermined amount. The rudders will be turned through only a limitedare due to the action of the pin 218 in the slot 220 which causes only arelatively slight angular rotation of the shaft 224.

There may be provided, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, an optionalballast tank radio controlled method wherein by means of radio controlthe pump 124 can be utilized for submerging and surfacing utilizing thecrank arm or escapement member 208.

The escapement 208 carries the pin 231, the pin being engageable with apivotally mounted lever 233 pivoted as at 235 to a bracket 237 mountedon the housing 62. Depending from the lever 233 is a chain 239 orsimilar member carrying a valve member 240 engageable in a valve seat242 formed in a fitting 244 to which the con-- duit sections 246 and 248are attached. The conduit sections are a portion of the conduit 128 usedin interconnecting the pump with the inflatable member 126. A one wayvalve 250 may be provided at the pump end of the conduit section. Hence,upon actuation of the escapement due to actuation of the shaft 202 bythe rubber band 200 at the signal exciting the solenoid 216, the Valve240 will be lifted to thus permit air to exhaust into the housing 62from the inflatable member 126 reducing pressure in the inflatablemember 126 thus partially collapsing the inflatable member 126 anddecreasing the volume it occupies thus reducing buoyancy. It is notedthat this inflatable member 126 is provided with a check valve 252 ascan be best seen in Figure 11. The check This can be seen best inAttached to the shaft is a hook-like member 198 having one end of arubber band 200 all alike atvalve is of conventional construction andallows air to be exhausted from the inflatable member when theinflatable member has been inflated and is still receiving air from theair pump thus preventing overinflation of the inflatable member.

The operation of this radio controlled model submarine is quiteentertaining, amusing and instructing. When ready to sail the modelsubmarine air is first removed by deflating the inflatable members 126by submerging the submarine in water to the conning tower level. Drawingout the 'air may be hastened by using a rubber tube and drawing in airby the mouth thus deflating the inflatable member 126. Of course, thetimer 148 must be in an open position.

Then, the balloon 172 in the conning tower 32 is inflated so as toregulate the depth to which the submarine will submerge. This step isempirically tested by inflating the balloon 172 varying amounts as maybe desired so that water will not enter the breather or snorkle tube 54through which the antenna conduit extends. The balloon 172 may be thenclosed using the closure member 176. It is not necessary to useexcessive pressure on the balloon 172. When ready to launch thesubmarine the timer 48 may be held in the open position and theinflatable member 126 may be inflated by detaching the conduit 146 andblowing into the inflatable member 126 by use of the breath or by anyother suitable means. The submarine may then be placed on the water andengine and radio switch turned on with the timer 148 opened to fullposition for timing to shut ofl. As the ship travels through water airslowly leaves from the pump and ballast tank through the timer airescape unit valve 168 and the sub slowly sinks to near the top of theconning tower level as was previously adjusted leaving snorkle tube 54exposed.

The timer finally snaps to the off position stopping the air escape andcausing the air pump to inflate the ballast tank drawing air in throughsnorkle tube 54, it being noted that the selected depth to which thesubmarine will submerge will not immerse the snorkle tube 54. The pumpis of course normally operating upon operation of the motor. This causesthe submarine to resurface back to normal exposed running position withdeck and superstructure again visible above the surface of the water.

Of course, use of radio control for the rudder and the ballast tanks isachievable through the escapement mechanism including the escapementcrank arms 208 and 220.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vessel comprising a hull and a conning tower carried above saidhull, said vessel having an opening therein to permit fluid entry intosaid hull and conning tower, an inflatable member in said hull, a motorin said hull, at least one shaft connected to said motor, a propeller onsaid shaft outside of said hull, a pump for inflating said inflatablemember, means connecting said pump and said shaft for operation thereby,valve means for deflating said inflatable member, and means forcontrolling the volume of liquid in said conning tower.

2. A vessel comprising a hull and a conning tower carried above saidhull, said vessel having an opening therein to permit fluid entry intosaid hull and conning tower, an inflatable member in said hull, a motorin said hull, at least one shaft connected to said motor, a propeller onsaid shaft outside of said hull, a pump for inflating said inflatablemember, means connecting said pump and said shaft for operation thereby,valve means for deflating said inflatable member, means for controllingthe volume of liquid in said conning tower, and timer means forcontrolling said valve means mounted on said conning tower.

3. A vessel comprising a hull and a conning tower carried above saidhull, said vessel having an opening therein to permit fluid entry intosaid hull and conning tower, an inflatable member in said hull, a motorin said hull, at least one shaft connected to said motor, a propeller onsaid shaft outside of said hull, a pump for inflating said inflatablemember, means connecting said pump and said shaft for operation thereby,valve means for deflating said inflatable member, and means forcontrolling the volume of liquid in said conning tower, said meansincluding an inflatable balloon in said conning tower.

4. A vessel comprising a hull and a conning tower carried above saidhull, said vessel having an opening therein to permit fluid entry intosaid hull and conning tower, an inflatable member in said hull, a motorin said hull, at least one shaft connected to said motor, a propeller onsaid shaft outside of said hull, a pump for inflating said inflatablemember, means connecting said pump and said shaft for operation thereby,valve means for deflating said inflatable member, means for controllingthe volume of liquid in said conning tower, steering means on said hull,radio control means for actuating said steering means, and meansconnecting said valve means to said radio control means for actuatingsaid valve means by said radio control means.

5. A vessel comprising a hull and a conning tower carried above saidhull, said vessel having an opening therein to permit fluid entry intosaid hull and conning tower, on inflatable member in said hull, a motorin said hull, at least one shaft connected to said motor, a propeller onsaid shaft outside of said hull, a pump for inflating said inflatablemember, means connecting said pump and said shaft for operation thereby,valve means for deflating said inflatable member, means for controllingthe volume of liquid in said conning tower, a rudder movably mounted onsaid hull, a rudder shaft, means connecting said rudder shaft with saidrudder, radio control means for actuating said shaft, and a flexibletube about said rudder shaft forming a water tight bearing between saidradio control means and said rudder shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,243,287 Haigh Oct. 16, 1917 1,306,284 Seidl June 10, 1919 1,993,549Holmes Mar. 5, 1935 1,993,550 Holmes Mar. 5, 1935 2,224,650 HollowayDec. 10, 1940'. 2,315,461 Thomas Mar. 30, 1943 2,538,347 Yates Ian. 16,1951 2,742,735 Sommerhoif Apr. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,089,494 FranceSept. 29, 1954

